Diane Dunn has folded origami peace cranes for World AIDS Day, hospice patients and family members on their wedding days. And now, she wants to fold to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

“After watching the news about what’s happening in Ukraine, it’s just such a sad, horrible thing that’s going on,” she said. “I need to do something, you know, how do I express myself?”

Dunn is a local mixed-media artist and a board member at the Kenai Art Center. She said coming together to work on a collective art project to symbolize peace made her feel less helpless.

“I thought it would be something to do artistically that expresses a wish for peace,” she said.

The goal, over the next two Saturdays, will be to fold 1,000 origami cranes. Dunn said the number is symbolic in tradition.

“Ancient stories say that the peace crane lives for 1,000 years, so that’s why you fold 1,000,” she said.

But in addition, she said it will be an opportunity to foster togetherness during an unsettling time.

“It’s been something that I’ve done throughout the years, and have done for a community project to bring people together and learn how to fold,” Dunn said. “Just be(ing) with others may be a way to meet new people and maybe express feelings that you’re having about things that are going on and just create community through the art.”

Dunn, along with fellow artist and board member Abbey Ulen, will be leading the origami folding. No experience is required. The peace crane project will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the next two Saturdays, March 19 and March 26. The event is free and open to the public on a drop-in basis.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.